Mezmerize (2005)
Artist: System of a Down
Type: Studio album (4th)
Released: May 17, 2005
Label: American Recordings / Columbia Records
Genre: Alternative metal • Nu metal • Experimental metal
Length: 36:35
Producer: Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian
Mezmerize is the first half of a double album project, paired conceptually with Hypnotize (2005). The album blends heavy metal aggression with melodic hooks, socially conscious lyrics, and experimental structures. It represents the band at a creative peak, balancing accessibility with complexity.
📦 Cover Art & Design
🎨 Design Highlights
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🔮 Surreal, Vibrant Imagery: The cover features a golden humanoid figure with mechanical and organic elements, merging a human face with abstract machinery.
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🎭 Designed by Vartan Malakian (Daron Malakian’s father), incorporating a psychedelic, surrealist style reflecting the album’s lyrical themes.
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🖌️ Bright gold, orange, and brown tones give the cover a distinct, eye-catching appearance compared with previous darker albums.
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🌌 The artwork complements the band’s experimental approach, hinting at control, manipulation, and social critique explored in the music.
The cover balances surrealism and conceptual depth, visually representing the album’s dynamic energy.
🎵 Tracklist
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Soldier Side – Intro
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B.Y.O.B.
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Revenga
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Cigaro
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Radio/Video
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This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m on This Song
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Violent Pornography
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Question!
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Sad Statue
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Old School Hollywood
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Lost in Hollywood
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Soldier Side
👥 Band Lineup (Mezmerize Era)
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Serj Tankian – Lead vocals, keyboards
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Daron Malakian – Guitar, vocals
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Shavo Odadjian – Bass, backing vocals
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John Dolmayan – Drums
🎶 Top Tracks
⭐ B.Y.O.B.
Lead single; political anthem critiquing war and societal manipulation; won a Grammy Award.
⭐ Question!
Melodic and experimental, featuring intricate vocal interplay and dynamic shifts.
⭐ Cigaro
Aggressive, fast-paced track with humorous yet biting lyrics.
⭐ Violent Pornography
Social commentary paired with heavy riffs and infectious rhythms.
📈 Commercial Performance & Grossing
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🥇 Debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200
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💿 First-week sales: ~450,000 copies
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📀 Certified 2× Platinum (U.S.)
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🌍 Worldwide sales: ~5 million copies
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⚡ The album strengthened System of a Down’s global status and set the stage for its companion album, Hypnotize.
🏆 Awards & Recognition
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Grammy Award: Best Hard Rock Performance (B.Y.O.B., 2006)
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Praised for blending political themes with musical complexity and catchy hooks
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Considered one of the most influential metal albums of the mid-2000s
🎤 Fun Facts & Trivia
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🎸 Daron Malakian co-produced the album and contributed heavily to vocal melodies.
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🎭 Masks are not used in this era; the band’s visual identity is conveyed through surrealist artwork instead.
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🎵 Lyrics often explore war, media, and political corruption, consistent with the band’s activist voice.
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🥁 John Dolmayan incorporated diverse drumming techniques to match the album’s shifting tempos and moods.
🤯 Did You Know?
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“B.Y.O.B.” stands for “Bring Your Own Bombs” and critiques modern warfare and propaganda.
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The album was written simultaneously with Hypnotize and recorded during the same sessions.
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Mezmerize debuted at #1 in 14 countries, demonstrating the band’s worldwide popularity.